Editor,THIS IS with reference to the article, “Days of calligraphy in DRC,” published in Sunday Times issue of November 3. The author forgets to mention that 1960-1965 was a period of chaos in DRC with ethnical/tribal wars/killings across the whole country and among virtually all tribes. Congolese persecuted and killed each other like crazy. If there were any “Banyarwanda” or “Banyamurenge” who were persecuted or killed during that period, they were but a speck of dust compared the other tribes. If you were in DRC or know something about the history of the country, you will recall tribal-based political parties like ABAKO (Alliance of the Bankongo), BALUBAKAT (the Baluba from Katanga) and many others at the centre of the mayhem during the aforementioned period. We all lost people during that dark period. I recall how the “Katangais” persecuted and killed the “Bakasai” in the 1990s only because of their tribe.As for the exile issue, the most important thing is for all of us to work hard to create the conditions for the Congolese Tutsi refugees to return home. First, eastern DRC should be cleared of all genocidaires. Pressure should be put on the Congolese government and the international community to follow through their current campaign until no one is ever again discriminated against or killed because of their tribe or ethnicity. We should all know that we need each other, we have the same color of blood. We are one, and should not accept to be told otherwise. What has worked in terms of reconciliation elsewhere can also work in DRC. We simply need a strong leadership, which, unfortunately we do not have for the moment. Congolese refugees in Rwanda should have a right to live anywhere they like in their country. In fact, the DRC government should put in place some sort of affirmative action to allow these long discriminated compatriots faster and easier access to different facilities. Likewise, the Congolese Tutsi refugees should overcome the fear of being “swallowed” or “diluted” in the big mosaic of the Congolese society. In DRC, everything seems to be a challenge. But all tribes are proud of what they are, and so should our Tutsi brothers. Conditions must allow them come back. If there is any fight for a better Congo (and sure there is), we should fight together, from within. Right now, bad governance and lack of vision is the main problem in our country. But, hopefully, things will change.Albert, Lubumbashi, DRC
